A role for hypocretin/orexin in motivation
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Isolation of Targeted Hypothalamic Neurons for Studies of Hormonal, Metabolic, and Electrical Regulation
Published on: August 4, 2023
Jennifer L Thompson1, Stephanie L Borgland
1Department of Anesthesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3.
Abstract:
Obesity and drug addiction, both a result of aberrant motivated behavior, are growing problems in western society. Increased dopamine neurotransmission occurs with both drug-seeking and ingestive behaviors and has been linked to effort related functions. Hypocretin/orexin (Hcrt/ox) neurons have long been known to mediate arousal and feeding. Over the last 5 years, hcrt/ox has been demonstrated to play a novel role in mediating a variety of reward-seeking behaviors and can modulate the activity and output of dopamine neurons. Here, we propose that hcrt/ox action on mesolimbic dopamine circuitry serves to promote effort to obtain highly salient natural or drug rewards.
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